Security Guards earn a median of $38,020 per year ($18.28/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 0.9% through 2035, with about 156,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 33-9032
- Protective Service
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Security Guard in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,020a year, or $18.28/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $30KTop 10% $59K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.9%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 156,0001,294,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.3M
- Projected 20351.3M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.3M Projected 2035 1.3M - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school79.3%
- Certificate4.2%
- Some college9.6%
- Associate's5.1%
- Bachelor's2%
Highest education held by security guards Segment Value High school 79.3% Certificate 4.2% Some college 9.6% Associate's 5.1% Bachelor's 2%
Also advertised as: Armed Security Officer, Campus Security Officer (CSO), Custom Protection Officer (CPO), Customer Service Security Officer, Hotel Security Officer, Loss Prevention Officer.
Pay
How much do security guards make?
Security Guards earn a median of $38,020 a year ($18.28 an hour, or about $3,170 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $30,210 and the top 10% more than $58,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $64,210. See Security guard salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Idaho Falls ($68,270 average): salary in every city.
Every security guard in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,020
Middle half earn $35,210 to $46,200
- 10th
- $30,210
- 25th
- $35,210
- 75th
- $46,200
- 90th
- $58,840
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $30,210 |
| 25th | $35,210 |
| Median | $38,020 |
| 75th | $46,200 |
| 90th | $58,840 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,020
- Median hourly wage
- $18.28/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $42,470
- People employed
- 1,283,470
Versus all US occupations
At $38,020, Security Guards earn 25% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,960 a year.
Versus protective service occupations
Inside the Protective Service group, where the middle occupation pays $74,060, this is 49% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $58,840 or more while the bottom 10% earn $30,210, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 5% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $64,210, and still leads at $58,425 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay security guards the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $64,210 | $58,425 | 15,880 |
| 2Alaska | $47,480 | $46,386 | 2,100 |
| 3Washington | $47,100 | $44,013 | 25,800 |
| 4Vermont | $45,550 | $46,500 | 930 |
| 5Oregon | $45,500 | $44,020 | 12,200 |
| 6New Hampshire | $45,200 | $43,393 | 2,450 |
| 7Colorado | $45,150 | $43,813 | 16,890 |
| 8Massachusetts | $44,670 | $42,238 | 23,930 |
| 9New York | $44,240 | $40,993 | 134,700 |
| 10Virginia | $43,640 | $43,163 | 34,870 |
Job outlook
Is security guard a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Security Guards | +0.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Security Guards to change 0.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 11,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 156,000 openings are projected each year, 12.1% of the 1,294,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of security guards and gambling surveillance officers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 157,200 openings for security guards and gambling surveillance officers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of security guards and gambling surveillance officers varies by occupation (see table).
AI exposure: moderate
BLS places this occupation in its moderate relative AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Getting in
How to become a security guard
Most people assume security guard work is unregulated. It is not: most states require security guards to be licensed or registered by the state, and the registration for an unarmed guard is a materially different and far easier thing than the separate permit needed to carry a firearm. The basic qualifications are usually being at least 18, passing a background check and completing training. Armed positions carry more stringent background checks and entry requirements, and are typically 21 and up with their own firearms permit, training hours and periodic requalification.
The credential path, step by step
- Check whether your state registers guards, and register
Most states require security guards to be licensed by the state in which they work. Basic qualifications are generally being at least 18 years old, passing a background check, and completing training. Some states and gaming facilities require a minimum age of 21 to work in a casino, and some jobs also require a driver's licence.
- Clear the criminal history check
Expect fingerprinting processed through both the state and the FBI. California, for example, requires Live Scan fingerprinting submitted on the Bureau's own guard-specific form, with the applicant paying the Live Scan, state Department of Justice and FBI processing fees at the time of fingerprinting, and allows roughly four to six weeks for the application to be processed.
- Complete the pre-assignment training
Many states recommend around 8 hours of pre-assignment training, 8 to 16 hours of on-the-job training and 8 hours of annual training. California is more prescriptive: the Power to Arrest training must be completed before a guard registration is issued, and 32 hours of security officer skills training must follow within the first six months of registration, with 16 of those hours inside the first 30 days of employment.
- Start work while the card is in the post, if your state allows it
This is the practical detail that decides when you can actually start earning. In California a guard must carry a valid registration card on duty, but a person may work pending receipt of the hard-copy card if the Bureau has approved them and they carry a printout of that approval from the Bureau's website together with valid photo identification.
- Add an armed endorsement only if you want armed work
This is a separate credential with much stricter standards, not an upgrade to your guard card. In California an exposed firearms permit requires US citizenship or permanent legal immigration status, a minimum age of 21, no state or federal firearms prohibition, an existing guard registration or other qualifying Bureau licence, a criminal history check, the required training courses and examinations, and a pass on an assessment of whether the applicant possesses appropriate judgment, restraint and self-control to carry a firearm on duty. Batons and tear gas each require their own separate permit and training course again.
- How long the training takes
A few weeks: most security guards learn the job in a few weeks of employer-provided training
Gambling surveillance officers and investigators may need several months and typically need prior casino or video-monitoring experience. California's statutory training runs from the Power to Arrest course before registration through 32 hours of skills training in the first six months.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
Many states expect around 8 hours of annual training. In California 8 hours of continuing training must be completed annually, and a guard registration not renewed within 60 days of expiry is cancelled outright and cannot be renewed, forcing a fresh application. A California exposed firearms permit expires two years from issue, cannot be renewed after expiry at all, and renewal requires four range qualifications across the term, a two-hour use of force and de-escalation review before each of them, and a written firearms examination passed with a score of 85% or higher.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
Most states require security guards to be licensed or registered by the state where they work, and the specific requirements vary widely: whether unarmed guards are registered at all, how many training hours are mandated and when they must be completed, the minimum age, whether annual continuing training is required, and how armed work is permitted. California's Bureau of Security and Investigative Services is the most fully documented example rather than the national rule. Guards who carry weapons usually must be licensed by the appropriate government authority, and most states require rigorous hiring and screening including background, criminal record and fingerprint checks for armed guards.
Who governs the credential
- California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
The state regulator that issues California's security guard registration, commonly called the guard card, under the Business and Professions Code. It also issues the separate exposed firearms permit, baton permit and tear gas permit, certifies training facilities and course providers, and can cancel a registration for non-renewal. Named here as a worked example of what state regulation of this occupation looks like, not as a national standard.
Credential detail for security guards is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Security Guards and Gambling Surveillance Officers · checked August 23, 2026
- California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services — Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet · checked August 23, 2026
- California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services — Firearms Permit Fact Sheet · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Security guards and gambling surveillance officers typically require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Gambling surveillance officers sometimes need experience with security and video surveillance. Most states require security guards to be licensed by the state, especially if they carry a firearm.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as security guards.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)79.3%
- Some College Courses9.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.2%
- Bachelor's Degree2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 79.3% |
| Some College Courses | 9.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 5.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.2% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a security guard do?
Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment.
Security guards and gambling surveillance officers protect property against theft, vandalism, and other illegal activity.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
- Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
- Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
- Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
- Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
- Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
- Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
- Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 7.7 per 100,000 workers (2.3x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, for the group “Security guards and gambling surveillance officers”: 64 deaths that year.
Security guards and gambling surveillance officers usually work in shifts of about 8 hours, with rotating schedules. Night shifts are common. Most security guards and gambling surveillance officers work full time. Seasonal work may be available during the holidays and during the warmer summer months in some states.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where security guards work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals47%
- Gambling industries (except casino hotels)22%
- Casino hotels22%
- Spectator sports2%
- Administrative and support services1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 47% |
| Gambling industries (except casino hotels) | 22% |
| Casino hotels | 22% |
| Spectator sports | 2% |
| Administrative and support services | 1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Monitoring3.4
- Speaking3.3
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Writing2.8
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Persuasion2.9
- Service Orientation2.9
- Negotiation2.6
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
- Time Management2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Negotiation | 2.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
| Time Management | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Network monitoring software
- Transaction security and virus protection software
- Video conferencing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a security guard?
Women make up 22.9% of security guards, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole.
25.2% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 41.0 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 22.9%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 41.0All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 25.2%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 962,000Security guards and gambling surveillance officers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of security guards | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 22.9% | 47.1% |
| White | 51.8% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 36.0% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 4.7% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 21.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 25.2% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 15.9% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Security guards and gambling surveillance officers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a security guard?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Security Guard |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.4
- Conventional4.8
- Enterprising2.9
- Social2.6
- Investigative2.3
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Security Guard
O*NET related occupations
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Protective Service
- Office and Administrative Support
More protective service careers
Median annual pay, with security guards highlighted
- Detective and Criminal Investigator$93,790
- Intelligence Analyst$93,790
- Police Identification and Records Officer$93,790
- Police Officer$76,210
- Custom and Border Protection Officer$76,210
- Firefighter$59,280
- Correctional Officer and Jailer$58,940
- Private Detective and Investigator$51,220
- Security Guard$38,020
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Detective and Criminal Investigator | $93,790 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $93,790 |
| Police Identification and Records Officer | $93,790 |
| Police Officer | $76,210 |
| Custom and Border Protection Officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Correctional Officer and Jailer | $58,940 |
| Private Detective and Investigator | $51,220 |
| Security Guard | $38,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within security guard
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Security Guard appears on
Questions
Security Guard: frequently asked questions
How much do security guards make?
Security Guards earn a median of $38,020 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.28/hr. The middle half earn between $35,210 and $46,200. The top 10% earn $58,840 or more.
How much do security guards make an hour?
The median hourly wage for security guards is $18.28 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $38,020 annual median works out to about $3,170 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a security guard?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of security guards earn less than $30,210 a year and the bottom quarter less than $35,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Which states pay security guards the most?
The highest state medians for Security Guards are District of Columbia ($64,210), Alaska ($47,480), Washington ($47,100) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of security guard earns the most?
BLS does not split security guards' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $58,840, against a median of $38,020 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($64,210), Alaska ($47,480), Washington ($47,100). BLS also counts 2 specialty careers inside this occupation (executive protection agent, nuclear security officer), which share its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a security guard?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Security Guards. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 79.3% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is security guard a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.9% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 156,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a security guard do?
Security guards and gambling surveillance officers protect property against theft, vandalism, and other illegal activity. A core O*NET task: monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Do security guards work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 18% of security guards usually work more than 40 hours a week, 80% work exactly 40 and 2% work fewer. 100% say their schedule is regular and 0% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a security guard?
O*NET scores Security Guards highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
How long does it take to become a security guard?
A few weeks: most security guards learn the job in a few weeks of employer-provided training. Gambling surveillance officers and investigators may need several months and typically need prior casino or video-monitoring experience. California's statutory training runs from the Power to Arrest course before registration through 32 hours of skills training in the first six months.
Do you need a license to work as a security guard?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. Most states require security guards to be licensed or registered by the state where they work, and the specific requirements vary widely: whether unarmed guards are registered at all, how many training hours are mandated and when they must be completed, the minimum age, whether annual continuing training is required, and how armed work is permitted. California's Bureau of Security and Investigative Services is the most fully documented example rather than the national rule. Guards who carry weapons usually must be licensed by the appropriate government authority, and most states require rigorous hiring and screening including background, criminal record and fingerprint checks for armed guards.
What percentage of security guards are women?
Women make up 22.9% of security guards, against 47.1% of all employed people: more men than in the workforce as a whole. 25.2% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 41.0 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Security guards and gambling surveillance officers".